In his first public appearance since the election, Mr Tsvangirai told a news conference on Tuesday evening: "There is no way the MDC will enter in any deal before ZEC [Zimbabwe Electoral Commission] has actually announced the result. That's the legal position."

"It is not confirmed by the [ZEC]. So any speculation about deals, about negotiations, about reaching out is not there," he added.

But it is not clear if he won more than the 50% majority needed to avoid a second run-off vote, which would have to be held three weeks after the 29 March election.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a coalition of civil society organisations, said its random sample of poll stations indicated Mr Tsvangirai had won just over 49% of the vote and Mr Mugabe 42%.

Simba Makoni, a former Mugabe loyalist, trailed at about 8%.

Mr Mugabe, 84, has not been seen in public since the election.

Meanwhile, Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the US National Security Council, said: "It's time for the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission to confirm the results we have all seen from the local polling stations and respected NGOs."

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